Creping machine



Il 9 re 8 b m, Z u. m 2, N5. .WTA 0 .s Y o i. mmm L.1 Emi. @m2, AG v mmmSm ,w .C1 ,A .m L

Cet. 29, 1946.

James W JZmuZIe Z Patented Oct. 29, 1946 Louis A. Straubel and James ,W.yStraubel, Green vBay, Wis.; said Louis A. VStraubel assigner to saidJames W. Straubel, as trustee "Application November 27, 1944, seriaiNo.sesgos This invention relates to a creping machine for lcreping dry vwebmaterial, such as paper and the like, to impart thereto a high degree ofsoftness and stretchability.

It has heretofore been proposed to crepe web material, such as paper, ina dry state by means of a pair of doctor blades ground to conform to thecurvature of the creping rolls and'provided With-sharp leading edgesheld in tight surface contact with the surfaces of the rolls. Forvarious reasons, such prior art devices have proved unsatisfactory forthe commercial production of` creped paper. For one thing, the sharpedges of the doctor blades tend to tear the paper web, especially whenlightv paper is being creped. Particles of dirt, grit or the likefrequently become wedged between the sharp doctor either tear or weakenthe paper as it passes thereagainst. v

In accordance withthe principles of our invention creping platesr areprovidedvhaving relative'- ly blunt, or rounded, leading edges.vPreferably, the rounded 'leading edges are held in closely spacedrelation to the surfaces ofthe Acreping rolls, rather than in .tightvpressure relationship -as heretofore. The creping plates need not be sclaims. (c1. 154-30) tion to provide a creping machine including crepingplates having blunt, or rounded, leading edges and providing arestricted passage for the accumulation of the bunched creped paper, andincluding evening rolls driven at a much slower rate of speed than thecreping rolls for insuring a uniform and even' distribution of thecreped paper from such accumulation Within or between the crepingplates.

,Other and further important objects of Athis invention will be apparentfrom the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawbladeedges and the surfaces of the rolls and Itis therefore an importantobject of our invention toY provide a creping machine for the .crepingof web material, such as paper and the like,in ardry` state, the machinebeing provided with creping plates having blunt, or rounded, leadingedges that extend intofthe' deliveryside of.v the-bite-of thek crepingrollsbut are prefer' ,ably slightly spaced from the roll surfaces oratleast not in pressure contact therewith. f

It is aofurtherimportant object of this invention to provide a crepingmachine for the creping offdry web material, such as paper, usingcreping plates having blunt, or rounded, leading edges spacedslightlyapart to provide a restricted passage between the creping plates, theblunt leading :edges in cooperation with the surfaces of the crepingrolls adjacentk the bite therebetween serving to. upset the websubstantially' at the bite itself and'to cause the `upset paper toaccumulate Ain'bunched4 condition between saidcreping plates.

ing.

On the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a creping machine embodyingour invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view with the creping rolls removed.

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view illustrating the arrangementof creping rolls and doctor plates. v

The reference numeral I 0 indicates a supply roll of web materialmounted upon a stand II and provided with the usual braking means (notshown) for securing the proper tension on the web I2 as it is -unwoundfrom roll. A pair of feeding and creping rolls I3 and I4 are mounted inapair of stands I5 with their axes in vertical alignment. Said rolls I3rand I4 are provided with hard smooth surfaces, preferably of chilledsteel, to prevent scoring of the rolls by the paper in the crepingoperation. The ends of the shaft I6 of the upper roll I3 are journalledin a bearing block I'I that is vertically adjustable between the uprightguides I8 of said stand I5. A bolt I9 threaded through the cross piece20 at each end vof the guide stands I8 serves to adjust the pressurebetween said feed rolls I3 and I4 at the bite 39 therebetween. Y'

A pair ofevening rolls 2i Vand 22 are mounted vin a stand 23 behind thefeeding and creping rolls indicated by the reference numeral. I2a. "Thev I It isa further important objectv of this invensurfaces of said rolls2| and 22 may suitably be knurled, as indicated at K, although they mayalso be smooth.

Between the sets of feeding and creping rolls and evening rolls there ismounted a pair of rigid creping plates 24 and 25. Said plates extend thefull width of the rolls and are supported so as to be adjustablerelative to each other to provide a .'gap 26 therebetween. For thispurpose, the creping plates 24 and 25 may be suitably carried by sets ofstraps 21, 21 and 28, 28 from the roll supporting stand 23, the strapsbeing slotted and provided with bolts 29 and 3.0 for securing-saidstrapsto said supporting stand 23. Adjustment of the width of the gap 26between said creping plates 24 and 25 may be performed by loosening thebolts 29 and 30 and moving the plates toward or away from each other.

The creping plates 24 and 25.-, as `best shown. Yin Figure 3, comprise apair of rigid Aplates .having plane opposed surfaces '5I and 32,respectively, which are equally spaced from a plane tangent to said bite39 between the 'feedingandcr'eping rolls I3 and I4. Said' surfaces 3land 32 together form the restricted passage 2S. The leading edges 33 and34 of said creping -plates 24V and 25 are rounded upon a radius that mayvary Vbetween -g'and 1A of aninch. Rearwardly of said'leading edges JP3and 34, the creping plates are relieved, as at 35 'and '35,respectively, toprov'ide clearance between the .plates and the surfacesofthe rolls I3 .and 14. The creping plates are similarly relieved attheir rear edges, as at '31. and 53 4for clearance with the surfaces ofthe evening rolls 2| and 22. I-t will kbe noted that sa'id leading edges33 Vand 34 extend into close proximity with the bite, `indicated at'39,between said Arolls 'Iand 'I4 and into closely spaced relationship withthe surfaces of said rolls, but preferably not in vactual contacttherewith.

A pairo'f .draw rolls 4B and 4I `are mounted behind the eveningrollsinvertical pressure vlrelationship to each other upon la .stand 42. Theupper roll 4.0, like the roll I3,hasashaft`4Il that is journalled at.its ends in bearing blocks lidi-,hat are vertically adjustable between`.the -upright guides of said `stand 42, as b-y means of -a pair ofbolts `45. r-lhe rolls 4i! and 44 yare preferably` provided with asoftor yielding surface, suchas rubber or felt, so as not to calenderoutthecrepe that is put into the web 42a. The :speed of the draw rolls 4Gand 4I can-be regulated to-leaveany surface speed -of therolls Vand Y41|is the same as that of rolls I3 and I4, vthey willtend to -pull out-mostof the-crepe but will nevertheless leave the paper considerably softer.From the draw rolls 4D and M the web I2asis rewound` .into a roll 41.

The lower feed roll `I4-znay.suitablybedriren by means of a-beltl-passin'gyarollhd agpulley 49 that is keyed tothe roll shafti. The upperfeed roll vI3 is driven throughapairofmeshing pinion gears I and 52secured to said/,shafts@Tand-145, respectively. This insures the rollsi3 and I4 being driven at the same rate of surface speed.

The evening rolls 2i Aand 22 may be geared together by pinions 53 andY51,3but areindependlrently driven by any suitable means `(not shown) ata `greatly reduced surface speed with respect ito said feed rolls, asfor instance in the ratio of l to'35. These rolls regulate therate ofdischarge -cf the bundles of creped paper from the accumulation 55. Thereduced speed of the rolls is neces- .sary because the creped paper isVin bundles as it :passes throughrthe evening rol-ls. These rollsthus:also serve to put back pressure on thepaper to `cause it to be upsetback in the bite of the rolls I3 and I4.

The shaft V59 also carriesa sprocket gear 53 yaround which is trained achain-54 for driving a sprocketgear -55 secured tothe .shaft 56 of thelower draw roll 4I. The upper draw roll '4D is percentage `of crepe:desired in the paper,.cr if .the

4 driven through intermeshing pinions 62 and 6I secured to the shaft 56and the upper shaft 43, respectively, so that the draw rolls will bedriven at the same surface speed. The surface speed of the draw rolls 40and-4-I is preferably slightly less than that of the feed Arolls I3 andI4.

The operation of the machine of our invention .is as follows:

In starting up the machine, the leading end of the web I2 is fed intothe bite 39 between the feeding andcrepingfrolls I3 and lli. The Webtendsto pass 1in a straight line between said rolls and not` to:adhereto either of them. As the web passes into the restricted passage25 between the creping'platesthe friction of the web upon the plane'surfaces 3i and 32, as well as the slower moving surfaces of theevening rolls 2I and 22, `causesrthe paper to backup and fold uponitself until van accumulation -of -bunched-up.-.paper asindicatedat'ii'., is produced. The pressureplaced upon the web ahead ofthe leading edges33 and 34 causes the paper to be upseton the `delivery`side of the rolls-Iand I4Y.substantially back into the bite 39. v

As the pressure-of the paper in back ,ofitforces thebunched-upaccumulation G35-out .of the `pas'- sage 2G, the crepedpaper Zafiscaused .-.tofpass Abetween the evening rolls 2i and 22 which serve.t0-deliver the -creped `;pap erevenly -and uniformly. The crepedweb-'I-Za is then passed through the bite of the rolls 402and 4If-rom'which the creped web passes throughjtheV rewindento :be wound upyinto a roll 41. Thepressure betweenvthedraw rolls 40 and 4I iscontrolledsothatfthe resilient surfaces :of these rolls 'will no ttakeout too :much

Aof the crepe. i

By virtue of the construction aboveifdescribed, the-.machine of ourinvention iscapable of Aproducing `commercially.a heavily :creped'webofipapen. starting with'the web indry fcondition. As illustrative ofsome rof lthe'moreimportant dibmensions, the. leadingedges 33 .and 34mayfbe vset within .3A -and .lilinch'es :from y.the bite. 39. .One rofthe .leading edges may. be slight-lyJ .inlad- .vance of theother,`orfithe two :edges amaytL-be .in "vert-ical alignment. The restrictedv.passage "2B may suitablylbe around lpfof :anginch in fwidth, dependingupon `therbasic 'weightgof the .paper .being creped. vThe.knurledevening .rollsJZI and 12 2; maybespaced apart .bylas .much as1/8 .and ofan'in'ch.

It will, of V-course,'beunderstood vthat various details of constructionmay-be var-ied through -a widerangew-ithout ydeparting from theprinciples of: this invention Landit is, v1,hereforev, not'the .purposeto :limit theipatent 'granted iher-eon other# wise. than fnecessitated Lbyith'e vscope fof@ thet fap- .pended'claims .Y

Whatiwefelaim is: i y Y In .la crepin'g f machine v -forl-paperand other'web niateriaka @pair-of smooth` surfaced rolls formingabitethereb'etween Sinto which said web -is drawn, apainofirigidlymountedcrepingplates .prOVdi-ng: `a .restricted Lpassagetherebetween and 4extending into. the :deliveryzside :of :said .bite-,flsaid Vplates having `blunt leadingnedges:closely ad? jacent: to .butfniot :in :pressurezscraping v.relationyShip' wii'fh'jsaidroll'rsurfaces, v.sa-id :blunt :edges in cooperation' with: tnemalilsiof'.saiid :restrictedpassage having thev effect ofbackingasaid web vupupon .'-ritself vinvsaidbite `alfiead .of-said leading .edges to ,bethere cre-ped, .and means rfor. drawing said, creped web ethrough andout -i of Vsaidmre- .stricted passage at ,a rate v`of tspeed; ysuch`las'. to cause said web to retain much of its crepe.

2. In a creping machine for paper and other web material, a pair ofsmooth surfaced rolls forming a bite therebetween into which said web isdrawn, a pair of rigidly mounted creping plates providing a restrictedpassage therebetween and extending into the delivery side of said bite,said plates having blunt leading edges closely adjacent to but not inpressure scraping relationship with said roll surfaces, said blunt edgesin cooperation with the walls of said restricted passage having theeffect of backing said web up upon itself in said bite ahead of saidleading edges to be there crepedy means for drawing said creped webthrough and out of said restricted passage at a rate of speed such as tocause said web to retain much of its crepe and a pair of spaced eveningrolls for insuring a uniform and even feed of creped paper from saidcreping plates to said drawing means.

3. In a creping machine for paper and other web material, a pair ofsmooth surfaced rolls forming a bite therebetween into which said web isdrawn, a pair vof rigidly mounted creping plates providing a restrictedpassage therebetween and extending into the delivery side lof said bite,said plates having rounded leading edges closely adjacent to but not npressure scraping relationship with said roll surfaces, said roundededges in cooperation with the walls of said restricted passage havingthe effect of backing said web up upon itself in said bite ahead of saidleading edges to be there creped, the creped web bunching up in saidrestricted passage to form an accumulation therein, a pair of knurledrolls having slightly spaced surfaces for receiving the web therebetweenfrom said accumulation and feeding the web uniformly and evenly andmeans for drawing said creped web through and out of said restrictedpassage and between said knurled rolls at a rate of speed such as to@aus said web to retain much of its crepe.

4. In a creping machine for the dry creping of paper and other webmaterial, a pair of feeding and creping rolls having smooth hardsurfaces providing a bite therebetween for receiving the web material, apair of rigidly mounted creping plates having plane opposed surfacesproviding a restricted passage therebetween, said plates having roundedleading edges positioned adjacent to said bite on the delivery sidethereof and in closely adjacent relationship but not in pressurescraping relationship to said rolls, said rounded edges in combinationwith said opposed surfaces having the effect of backing said web up uponitself in said bite ahead of said leading edges to be there upset andcreped, the creped web bunching up in said restricted passage to form anaccumulation therein and a pair of spaced knurled rolls for controllablyreleasing said creped web from such accumulation.

5. In a creping machine for the dry creping of paper and other webmaterial, a pair of feeding and creping rolls having smooth hardsurfaces providing a bite therebetween for receiving the web material, apair of rigidly mounted creping plates having plane opposed surfacesproviding a restricted passage therebetween, said plates having roundedleading edges positioned adjacent Ito said bite on the delivery sidethereof and in closely adjacent relations-hip but not in pressurescraping relationship to said rolls, said rounded edges in combinationwith said opposed surfaces having the effect of backing said web up uponitself in said bite ahead of said leading edges to be there upset andcreped, the .creped web providing a pressure bite therebetween forreceiving the web material, a pair of rigid creping plates .havingopposed plane surfaces equally spaced from a plane tangent to said rollsurfaces at said bite, said plates having rounded leading edgespositioned adjacent to said bite on the delivery side thereof, means foradjustably supporting said plates in fixed adjusted position to providea restricted gap between said opposed surfaces, said rounded leadingedges in combination with said opposed plane surfaces having the effectof backing up said web upon itself in said bite ahead of said leadingedges to be there upset and creped, the creped web bunching up in saidrestricted passage to form an accumulation therein.

7. In a creping machine for the dry creping of paper and other webmaterial, a pair of feeding and creping rolls having smooth hardsurfaces providing a pressure bite therebetween for receiving the webmaterial, a pair of rigid creping plates having opposed plane surfacesequally spaced from a plane tangent to said roll surfaces at said bite,said plates having rounded leading edges positioned adjacent to saidbite on the delivery side thereof, means for adjustably supporting saidplates in fixed adjusted position to provide a restricted gap betweensaid opposed surfaces, said rounded leading edges in combination withsaid opposed plane surfaces having the effect of backing up said webupon itself in said bite ahead of said leading edges to be there upsetand creped, the creped web bunching up in said restricted passage toform an accumulation therein, and a pair of spaced rough surfaced rollsdriven at a much slower rate of speed than said feeding and crepingrolls to aid in the uniform delivery of the creped web material fromsaid accumulation.

8. In a creping machine for the dry creping of paper and other webmaterial, a pair of feeding and creping rolls having smooth hardsurfaces providing a pressure bite therebetween for receiving lthe webmaterial, a pair of rigid creping plates having opposed plane surfacesequally spaced from a plane tangent to said roll surfaces at said bite,said plates having rounded leading edges positioned adjacent to saidbite on the delivery side thereof, means for adjustably supporting saidplates in fixed adjusted position to provide a restricted gap betweensaid opposed surfaces, said rounded leading edges in combination withsaid opposed plane surfaces having the effect of backing up said webupon itself in said bite ahead of said leading edges to be there upsetand creped, the creped web bunching up in said restricted passage toform an accumulation therein, a pair of spaced rough surfaced rollsdriven at a much slower rate of speed than said feeding and crepingrolls to aid in the uniform delivery of the creped web material fromsaid accumulation and a pair of resilient surface rolls for drawing;said creped web through said rough surfaced rol s.

. LOUIS A. STRAUBEL. JAMES W. STRAUBEL.

